Securement device for a tap

ABSTRACT

A securement device for a tap having a tap body with a bottom face and at least one water supply shaft extending from the tap body bottom face to pass through an aperture in a sink or bath, has a support member adapted to be connected to the tap body spaced from the tap body bottom face, the tap body being placed adjacent one side of a sink or bath with the tap shaft or shafts extending through the sink or bath aperture and the support member engaging the tap body on the other side (underside) of the sink or bath to secure the tap body on the sink or bath. The support member has a support plate or body with at least one edge cut-out/slot to receive a tap pillar forming or assembled to a water supply shaft of the tap body.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of PCT International PatentApplication Serial No. PCT/GB2011/050037, filed Jan. 12, 2011 and claimspriority to Great Britain Patent Application Serial No. GB1112484.9,filed Jul. 20, 2011.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns improvements in and relating tosecurement devices for taps.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many single or mixer taps have a tap body with one or more water feedpillars with an external thread extending below the tap body bottomface. To secure the tap to a sink or bath, each pillar is insertedthrough a tap aperture, and a back nut rotated on the pillar sosandwiching the sink or bath surface adjacent the aperture between thetap body bottom face and the back nut, whereby to secure the tap to thesink or bath. Monobloc taps also exist which are pre-plumbed with waterfeed pipes which pass through a sink or bath aperture. Bolts passingthrough a back plate are screwed into the monobloc tap so sandwichingthe sink or bath surface adjacent the aperture between the tap body andthe back plate, whereby to secure the tap to the sink or bath.

Several problems arise with the method of securing such taps to sinks orbaths. Firstly, it generally very awkward to screw back nuts ontopillars or plates to monobloc taps as they are often substantiallyinaccessible and even with appropriate tools can require a great deal oftime and effort and discomfort to the installer to fit in place.Secondly, it can be very awkward to connect water feed pipes to the feedshafts as they are often relatively inaccessible. Thirdly, over time theback nut or plate bolts corrode making them very difficult to remove,whereby it can be difficult to remove the taps if a leak occurs or tapsneed replacing, again as they are often relatively inaccessible.Plumbers can often harm themselves plumbing-in, repairing or removingtaps, which has health and safety implications, and considerable timecan be spent on these tasks so adding to costs.

The present invention seeks to address these considerable problems thathave been poorly addressed in the past. Examples of prior attempts toaddress the problem are provided in prior patents U.S. Pat. No.6,209,153, EP0045298, U.S. Pat. No. 5,906,401 and DE 19912324. In theseprior art arrangements securement devices are provided having broadannular collars as support members to mount to the tap pillar at thebath or sink underside for a bolt of the device to be screwed up totighten/secure the tap in place. These are only partially less difficultto install and use than the prior art that preceded them.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided asecurement device for a tap having a tap body with a bottom face and atleast one water supply shaft extending from the tap body bottom face topass through an aperture in a sink or bath, the device comprising:

a) a support member adapted to be connected to the tap body spaced fromthe tap body bottom face, and

b) at least one force applicator to force the support member away fromthe tap body in use the tap body being placed adjacent one side of asink or bath with the tap shaft or shafts extending through the sink orbath aperture, and said force applicator engaging, directly orindirectly, the other side of the sink or bath remote from the tap bodyand pushing the support member away from the tap body to secure the tapbody on the sink or bath, wherein the support member comprises a supportplate or body with at least one edge cut-out/slot to receive a tappillar of the tap, whereby the support plate or body may be installed tothe pillar by moving the support plate or body laterally/radiallyinwardly towards the pillar to embrace the pillar, with the pillarslotted into the cut-out/slot, and the support plate or body therebylatches against a nut or other element or shoulder on the pillar tosecure the tap body on the sink or bath.

Unlike the annular mountings of the prior art, where the support memberneeds to be threaded as a collar onto the support pillar or its attachedpipes, the edge cut-out/slot of the support plate allows a simplelateral slotting motion for installation of the support plate onto thepillar above the coupling nut or other element/shoulder on the pillarwhere it can then be adjusted by the force applicator to pull down onthe pipe coupling nut or other element on the pillar to tightly securethe tap onto the sink/bath. This enables the installation process to befar more flexible and user-friendly than the prior art. The pipeconnector can be securely pre-fitted to the tap externally to the bathor sink by coupling nuts and the pipes and tightened coupling nutslowered down through the aperture of the sink or bath for the tap tothen be clamped in place by the device in a simple action where thedevice support plate is simply slid sideways onto the pillar and theforce applicator then operated remotely. This can save theplumber/installer a great deal of time, effort, stress, aggravation andrisk of injury.

Particularly preferably the device comprises a platform that supportsthe support member to allow the support member to slide there-overlaterally towards or away from the pillar. The device preferably has aresilient biasing means to bias the support member to move laterallytowards or away from the pillar.

In one preferred aspect the device comprises remotely operable linkagemeans to move the support member inwards towards the pillar to engageabove the nut or other element/shoulder on the pillar. Suitably thelinkage is flexible (e.g. of wire/cable) or articulated. Preferably thelinkage is configured to change direction to pass underneath the sink orbath to facilitate remote operation at the base of the sink or bath orbeyond. This is particularly useful where the tap is mounted midwayalong a bath and hard up against a wall since it can be inaccessiblewithout pulling the bath away from the wall. The remote operation systemallows a bath to be installed and sealed or tiled in place and the tapslater changed without having to pull the bath out and damage the sealantand tiling. The linkage suitably operates to move the support memberinto its latching position and suitably can be locked/restrained in thatstate. Primarily if the linkage is flexible—e.g. of cable, it preferablyis countered by resilient biasing means (e.g. coil spring) to move awayfrom its latching position when the linkage/restraint is released.Alternatively the linkage may operate to move the support member awayfrom its latching position and suitably can be locked/restrained in thatstate and it may be countered by resilient biasing means (e.g. coilspring) to move towards its latching position when the linkage/restraintis released.

As regards the force applicator, this can be removable, or it can remainfixed to the support member when the securement device is in use.Preferably, the force applicator is a threaded shaft passing through athreaded aperture in the support member. Preferably, one first end ofthe threaded shaft includes a manually-operated handle, or hex head orscrew driver slot. Preferably, a second end engages the sink or bath. Inone embodiment, the second end of the force applicator, in use, isconnected to a sink or tap plate which engages the sink or tap todistribute the load on the sink or bath. The sink or tap plate may slideon guide rods connected to the support member to prevent it fromrotating relative to the support member. One face of the plate may be ofresilient material to engage the sink or bath. The securement devicecomprises a single force applicator in one embodiment of the invention.In other embodiments, the securement device may comprise two or moreforce applicators.

In one variant the support member is a support plate or body with anedge cut-out to receive a threaded tap pillar forming or assembled to awater supply shaft of a single tap. One or a pair of nuts are threadedto the tap pillar and, in use, the nuts can be threaded onto the pillarwith the plate loosely located between the nuts to secure the supportplate to the pillar in a position spaced from the tap body. In anothervariant, the support member is a support plate with a pair of spacedcut-outs to receive spaced threaded tap pillars forming water supplyshafts of a mixer tap or two or more plate sections each with acut-out/slot. In use, the support plate can abut nuts on the pillar whenthe force applicator forces the support plate away from the tap bodyWhere there is a pair of cut-outs in one plate they are preferably bothlocated along one single edge of the support plate. The distance betweenthe cut-outs is equal to the distance between the tap pillars, such thatthe cut-out can fit over the pillars in situ. In one alternative, thecut-outs can be at opposite edges of the support plate, and the supportplate can have a resilient mechanism, such as a spring or cam mechanism,to lock it in place on the tap pillars, or it may simply be of a sizethat it fits snugly between the tap pillars and is positioned by, forexample, tilting it to fit it into place and then moving it into a morehorizontal disposition to cause it to fit tightly between the tappillars with the pillars received in the opposing cut-outs.

In a further embodiment, the support plate has a cut-out to receive anoverflow pipe. The overflow cut-out may be located at a different edgeto that of the cut-out or cut-outs designed to receive the threaded tappillars. In yet another embodiment, the support member is a supportplate spaced from a tap body bottom face of a monobloc tap by a bolt.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provideda force applicator for use with a securement device for a tap, the taphaving a tap body with a bottom face and at least one water supply shaftextending from the tap body bottom face to pass through an aperture in asink or bath, the force applicator comprising: a) a threaded shaft, b) amanually operated handle at a first end of the threaded shaft, c) asecond end of the threaded shaft, wherein the second end engages thesink or bath, wherein, in use, the force applicator applies a force toforce part of the securement device away from the tap body, and sosecure the tap body on the sink or bath, the force applicator beingadapted to operate on the securement device of the first aspect of theinvention.

Other inventive aspects of the present invention will become apparentfrom the description, claims and drawings hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be more particularlydescribed, solely by way of example, with reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a cross-section view of a single tap secured to a bath orsink;

FIG. 2 a shows a cross-section view of a mixer tap secured to a bath orsink;

FIG. 2 b shows a cross-section view of an alternative embodiment of amixer tap secured to a bath or sink;

FIG. 2 c shows an embodiment of a support plate for a mixer tap;

FIG. 2 d shows an alternative embodiment of a support plate for a mixertap;

FIG. 2 e shows another alternative embodiment of a support plate for amixer tap;

FIG. 2 f shows yet another alternative embodiment of a support plate fora mixer tap;

FIG. 3 shows a cross-section view of a monobloc tap secured to a bath orsink;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view from above of a remote deploymentembodiment of the invention that uses a remote operable linkage formoving the support member laterally into latching engagement with thetap pillar—the support members here being in the latched state, latchingover the nut on the tap pillar;

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view from below corresponding to FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 shows a schematic plan view corresponding to FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 shows a schematic plan view of an embodiment of the inventionwherein the support plate is integrally assembled to the bath or sinkunderside;

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view from below corresponding to FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a variant of the FIGS. 4 to 7embodiments where each support plate that latches against a nut/shoulderof a tap pillar is miniaturised and incorporated into a collar or pipeend/coupling;

FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of a variant of the FIG. 3 embodimentwhere the tap securement device is in the form of two horse-shoe shapedsupport plates and a pair of bolts, each with a slotted multi-facetedhead/hex head at one end and where the upper support plate has a foampad with a recess to receive and centre the other end of the bolt (onlyone of the pair of bolts is shown);

FIG. 11 shows the securement device of FIG. 10 in more detail;

FIG. 12 shows the securement device of FIG. 10 in explodedassembly/pre-assembly;

FIG. 13 shows an elongate slotted head that can be fitted over a nut ona threaded shaft, accommodating the nut in a multi-faceted socket of thehead;

FIG. 14 shows an elongate slotted multi-faceted head/hex head with adeep threaded socket that can be fitted like a nut, threaded onto athreaded shaft;

FIG. 15 shows a further embodiment of securing device comprising anupper support plate with a ribbed skirt below and having a lower supportplate threadedly held within the skirt;

FIG. 16 shows a variant of the FIG. 15 device, having a through-hole forthe tap's threaded pillar; and

FIG. 17 shows a variant of the FIG. 15 device mounting onto a pair ofthreaded pillars of a monobloc tap rather than just one pillar.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1 there is shown a single tap 1. Tap 1 has a tap body2 with a bottom face 3 and threaded tap pillar 4, forming a water supplyshaft, extending from the tap body bottom face to pass through anaperture 5 in a sink or bath rim “A”.

A support member in the form of a support plate 10 is provided with a“U-shaped” cut-out (i.e. recess or slot) 10A at one edge to receive thethreaded tap pillar 4, embracing the pillar 4. The support plate 10 isinstalled to the pillar 4 by moving the support plate 10 laterally(radially inwardly) towards the pillar 4 to embrace the pillar 4, withthe pillar 4 slotted into the cut-out/slot 10A, and the support plate orbody can thereby latch against a nut 12 on the pillar 4 to secure thetap body 2 on the sink or bath. As can be seen, a pair of nuts 11, 12are threaded onto the pillar 4, with the plate 10 loosely locatedbetween the nuts 11, 12 to secure the support plate 30 to the pillar ina position spaced from the tap body. While the support plate 10 is inits latching/engaged position against the upper face of nut 12 the tapbody 2 cannot be pulled back up out of the aperture 5 and is thussubstantially secured in place. To tighten the tap further in placeforce is applied to force the plate 10 away from the tap body 2.

A force applicator is provided in the form of a screw threaded bolt 13to force the plate 10 away from the tap body 2. Bolt 13 has a first endwith a hex head or screw driver slot 14 adapted to engage with a screwdriver “X” (or manually operated handle—not shown). Bolt 13 has a secondend which engages with one side of a sink or bath plate 15. The otherside of plate 15 has a resilient rubber face to engage against the sinkor bath rim “A”. Plate 15 is also provided with a cut-out 15B to receivethe threaded tap pillar 4. In use the tap body 2 is placed adjacent oneside of a sink or bath with the pillar 4 extending through the sink orbath aperture. Plate 10 is placed between nuts 11, 12 with bolt 13 andplate 15 extending above plate 10. Clockwise rotation of shaft 13 byscrew driver “X” pushes plate 15 against the other side of the sink orbath remote from the tap body, and pushes the support plate 10 away fromthe tap body 2 to secure the tap body on the sink or bath. Tap 1 caneasily be removed by rotating shaft 13 anti-clockwise whereby plates 10and 15 can slide off pillar 4 and the tap lifted out of the aperture 5in the sink or 15 bath rim.

Nut 12 may form part of a tap connector to connect a water piper “Y” tothe pillar 4. The tap connector including nut 12 may very convenientlybe secured to the tap body before the pillar 4 is passed through theaperture 5 in the sink or bath rim, being of an overall outside diametersmall enough relative to the diameter of aperture 5 to allow freepassage through the aperture 5. The installation of the tap is therebymade much easier for the plumber.

Referring to FIG. 2 there is shown a mixer tap 21. Tap 21 has a tap body22 with bottom faces 23A. 23B and threaded tap pillars 24A, 24B, forminga water supply shaft, extending from the tap body bottom faces to passthrough apertures 25A, 25B in a sink or bath rim “B”. A support memberin the form of a support plate 30 is provided with “U-shaped” cut-outs30A, 30B to receive the threaded tap pillars 24A, 24B. Nuts 31, 32 arethreaded onto the pillars 24A, 24B to secure the support plate 30 to thepillars in a position spaced from the tap body 22. Nuts 31, 32 may formpart of a tap connector to connect water pipes “Y” to the pillars 24A,24B.

A force applicator is provided in the form of a screw threaded bolt 33to force the plate 30 away from the tap body 22. Bolt 33 has a first endwith a manually operated handle 34 (or hex head or screw driver slotadapted to engage with a screw driver). Bolt 33 has a second end whichengages with one side of a sink or bath plate 35. The other side ofplate 35 has a resilient rubber sheet 36 to engage against the sink orbath rim “B”. Nylon™ stabilising pins 37A, 37B act as guides to helpprevent the plate 35 rotating relative to plate 30 when shaft 33 isrotated. These may of course be of other materials.

In use, the tap body 22 is placed adjacent one side of a sink or bathwith the pillars 24A, 24B extending through the sink or bath apertures25A, 25B. Clockwise rotation of the shaft 33 by handle 34 pushes plate35 against the other side of the sink or bath rim remote from the tapbody, and pushes the support plate 30 away from the tap body 22 tosecure the tap body on the sink or bath. Tap 21 can easily be removed byrotating shaft 33 anticlockwise whereby plate 30 can slide off pillar 4and the tap 21 lifted out of the aperture 23A, 23B in the sink or bathrim “B”.

As with the first embodiment, in this second embodiment the tapconnectors 31, 32 may very conveniently be secured to the tap bodybefore the pillars 24A, 24B pass through the aperture 23A, 23B in thesink or bath rim.

Referring to FIG. 2 b, there is shown an alternative mixer tap 21. Asupport member 30 is provided with “U-shaped” cut-outs 30A, 30B in itsedge to receive the threaded tap pillars 24A, 24B. The support member 30is also provided with a “U-shaped” cut-out 60 to receive an overflowunit. A force applicator is provided in the form of two screw threadedbolts 61A, 61B to force the plate 30 away from the tap body 22. Thebolts have a first end 62A, 62B with a hex head or screw driver slotadopted to engage with a screwdriver, and a second end which engageswith one side of the sink or bath plate 35. The two threaded bolts 61A,61B prevent the plate 35 rotating relative to plate 30 when each bolt61A, 61B is rotated.

Referring to FIGS. 2 c, 2 d, 2 e, 2 f, there are shown alternativeembodiments of support member 30. FIG. 2 c shows a support member 30with “U-shaped” edge cut-outs 30A, 30B to receive the threaded tappillars, and on the opposite side of the support member 30, a “U-shaped”cut-out 60 to receive part of an overflow unit. In the alternativeembodiment shown in FIG. 2 d, the cut-outs 30A, 30B are provided on thesame side of the support member 30 as cut-out 60. FIG. 2 e shows asupport member 30 with “U-shaped” cut-outs 30C, 30D designed to receivethe threaded tap pillars. The cut-outs 30C, 30D are positioned atopposite ends of the support member 30. The support member 30 is of asize that it fits snugly between the tap pillars and is positioned by,for example, tilting it to fit it into place. FIG. 2 f shows anembodiment of the support member 30 in which the support member 30 isformed from two separate ends 63A, 63B, and each of these ends 63A, 63Bis provided with a “U-shaped” edge cut-out 30C, 30D to receive thethreaded tap pillars. A resilient member in the form of a spring 64forms a connection between the two ends 63A, 63B of the support member30. The spring 64 tends to force the ends 63A, 63B outwards. The supportmember 30 is positioned by compressing the spring 64 and fitting thesupport member 30 between the tap pillars. The spring 64 then relaxesand forces the ends 63A, 63B outwards so that the cut-outs 300, 30D fitsnugly against the tap pillars. Alternatively a cam-arrangement, forexample a lever-operated cam, in which, as a lever is rotated, a camsurface moves the ends 63A and 63B apart, can be used, or otherarrangements for driving the ends away from each other.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a monobloc tap 41. Tap 41 has atap body 42 with a bottom face 43 and pair of water shafts 44A, 44B,extending from the tap body bottom face 43 to pass through an aperture45 in a sink or bath rim “C”. A support member in the form of a supportplate 50 is provided with a “U-shaped” cut-out 50A in its edge toreceive the threaded shaft 46 extending from bottom face 43. The thinthreaded shaft 46 is, in this embodiment, the ‘tap pillar’ of the tapbody 42 as contrasted to the much thicker tap pillars 4, 24 of theprevious two embodiments and in this case runs alongside the watersupply shafts 44A, 44B, rather than the previous two embodiments wherethe water supply shaft(s) ran up through the hollow tap pillars 4, 24.It should also be understood that the term ‘tap pillar of the tap body’as used herein also embraces a pipe or pipe connector assembled to thewater supply shaft of a tap body.

A pair of nuts 51, 52 are threaded onto the shaft 46, with the plate 50loosely located between the nuts 51, 52 to secure the support plate tothe shaft 46 in a position spaced from the tap body. A force applicatoris provided in the form of a screw threaded bolt 53 to force the plate50 away from the tap body 42. Bolt 53 has a first end with a manualhandle 54 (or hex head or screw driver slot adapted to engage with ascrew driver—not shown). Bolt 53 has a second end which engages with oneside of a sink or bath plate 55. The other side of plate 55 has aresilient rubber face 56 to engage against the sink or bath rim “C”.Plate 55 is also provided with a cut-out 55A to receive the threadedshaft 46. In use the tap body 42 is placed adjacent one side of a sinkor bath with the shaft 46 and water supply shafts 44A, 44B extendingthrough the sink or bath aperture 45. Clockwise rotation of shaft 53 byhandle 54 pushes plate 55 against the other side of the sink or bathremote from the tap body, and pushes the support plate 50 away from thetap 15 body 42 to secure the tap body on the sink or bath. Tap 41 caneasily be removed by rotating shaft 53 anti-clockwise whereby plates 50and 55 can slide off shaft 46 and the tap lifted out of the aperture 45in the sink or bath rim.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 to 6, these show a remote deployment embodimentof the invention that uses a remotely operable linkage of wires 63A, 63Bfor pulling on an thereby moving the latching support member laterallyinto latching engagement with the tap pillar. Here the support memberarrangement is doubled up to mount to a pair of threaded pillars 57A,57B and comprises a pair of support plates 58A, 58B opposing each othereither side of the first pillar 57A and each having a “U-shaped” cut-out59A, 59B in its edge proximate the pillar 57A to receive and embrace thethreaded pillar 57A. The second pillar 57B has an equivalent of thisarrangement. The four support plates 58A, 58B are all supportivelymounted on a single platform 60 and they are constrained by walls or agroove or other guide surfaces (not shown) to be able to move in arecti-linear path towards or away from the respective pillar 57A, 57B. Asink or bath plate 61 to abut the sink or bath rim underside is providedoverlying the support plates 58A, 58B and is of similar shape and sizeto the platform 60 and keyed to it by pair of screw threaded bolts 61A,61B.

The support plates 58A, 58B are each resiliently biased by a respectivecoil spring 62, each spring 62 being anchored at one end 62A and intension, to move in the direction away from latching engagement with therespective tap pillar 57A, 57B. The linkage of wires 63A, 63B connectsto each of the four support plates 58A, 58B such that when it is pulledon it will draw the opposing support plates 58A, 58B to close togetheraround the respective threaded pillar 57A, 57B and thereby latch overthe nut 64 on the respective pillar 57A, 57B. The linkage 63A, 63B isflexible to be able to change direction to pass underneath the sink orbath to facilitate remote operation at the base of the sink or bath orbeyond. This is very helpful for bath installations where the tap ismounted midway along a bath and hard up against a wall since it canotherwise be inaccessible without pulling the bath away from the wall.The remote operation system allows a bath to be installed and sealed ortiled in place and the taps later changed without having to pull thebath out and damage the sealant and tiling. The linkage 63A, 63B can belocked/restrained in the latching state. The resilient biasingmeans/coil springs 62 will on release of the restraint and pulling forceon the linkage 63A, 63B cause the support plates 58A, 58B to move awayfrom their latching position. Thereupon the tap body may be lifted outfor replacement without having to pull the bath out.

It will be noted that the sink or bath plate 61 and platform 60 for thesupport plates are provided with through apertures 65, 66 that are ofgreater diameter than the pillars 57A, 57B and nuts 64. This facilitatespre-plumbing where the pillars 57A, 57B and nuts 64 comprise pipeconnectors for connecting the tap to the water supplies.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, these show an embodiment of theinvention wherein the device with support plate is integrally assembledto the bath or sink underside. The support plate 65 is a unitary platewith an edge cut-out 66A, 66B on one side at each end to receive arespective one of a pair of threaded tap pillars 67A, 67B, similar tothe FIG. 2 a embodiment. However, here the support plate 65 is heldcaptive within end channels 68A, 68B of a mounting bracket 69 that isfastened to the underside of the bath or sink. The support plate 65 canbe moved along the channels 68A, 68B enabling the plate to latchinglyengage with or disengage from the pillars 67A, 67B and their nuts 64.There is also head space in the channels 68A, 68B to allow the supportplate 65 to be moved vertically and backed off from the pillars 67A, 67Bfar enough to be able to withdraw and demount the tap body with thepillars 67A, 67B from the sink or bath.

Referring now to FIG. 9, this variant of the bath mounted tap securementdevice has each support plate 70 that latches against a nut/shoulder ofa tap pillar being miniaturised and incorporated into/housed in a collaror pipe end/coupling 71 on the tap pillar. The support plates 70 aresuitably resiliently biased to latch behind the nut or shoulder on eachrespective tap pillar and can be pulled radially outwardly from thepillars to disengage and allow detachment by pulling on a cable 72 thatlinks to both support plates 70 by a link bar 73 and which passes arounda pulley wheel or curved fixture 74. The cable 72 is here able to bereeled in or out on a lever turned drum with lever handle 75.

FIG. 10 shows a variant of the FIG. 3 embodiment of the tap securementdevice that comprises upper and lower horse-shoe shaped support plates79, 80, each horse-shoe shape forming a U-shaped cut out/recess thatfits radially onto a threaded stem/pillar 77 of the tap 76 for the lowerplate 80 to be able to engage over a nut 77 b on the a threadedstem/pillar 77. The lower support plate 80 has a pair of threadedthrough-holes 80 a through each of which the threaded shank of arespective bolt 81 passes threadedly engaged whereby turning of the bolt81 in the hole 80 a causes the plate 80 to travel downwardly, pressingdown on the nut 77 b to pull the tap 76 down tight against the bath orsink top.

Each of the pair of bolts 81 has a multi-faceted head (here a hexagonalhead) 82 at one end, the head 82 having a central slot to allow the bolt81 to be turned by a screw-driver. The upper support plate 79 comprisesa metal plate 79 a that has on its upper-side a thin rubber membrane topress against the underside of the bath or sink rim and on its undersidea thicker resilient foam pad 79 c with a pair of circular recesses 79 deach serving as a socket to receive and locate the free end of arespective one of the two bolts 81. The foam loosely resiliently gripsthe bolt 81 end when the latter is inserted into the recess 79 d,allowing the bolt 81 end to press on the metal plate 79 a and turn aboutits axis.

Referring now to FIG. 13, this comprises 3D and long section views of anelongate socket head 83 that can be fitted over a nut on a threadedshaft, accommodating the nut in a multi-faceted socket 83 a of the head83 and accommodating any protruding part of the threaded shaft in a deepcircular cylindrical cavity 83 b in the base of the socket 83. This head83 enables the user to more easily turn the nut in a confined space.Head 83 has a slot 83 c in its base below cavity 83 b, that is adaptedto receive the tip of a screwdriver for turning the head 83. The head 83may be used in a number of ways. It may be used as a means of convertinga conventional headed bolt into a slot-headed bolt 81 for use in thesame fashion as the slot-headed bolt 81 in the preceding (FIGS. 10 to12) embodiment, ie for driving the lower support plate down to pull thenut 77 b and linked tap down. Alternatively it may be used to directlydrive the threaded tightening of the nut(s) 77 b of the threadedshaft(s)/pillar 77 of the tap 76 to secure the tap in place. This latterapproach enables the tap to be secured in place through turning of ascrewdriver pointed upwardly from below rather than much more awkwardlyusing a spanner that has to be held radially relative to the pillar 77much higher up under the basin/bath rim.

Referring now to FIG. 14, this comprises 3D and long section views of anelongate socket head 84 that can be fitted, threaded over the end of athreaded shaft. The socket head 84 is externally a multi-facetedhead/hex head with a deep threaded socket 84 b that can be fitted like anut, threaded onto a threaded shaft. The head 84 has a slot 84 c in itsbase below cavity 84 b, that is adapted to receive the tip of ascrewdriver for turning the head 84. This could be used as a means ofconverting a conventional non-headed bolt into a slot-headed bolt 81 foruse in substantially the same fashion as the slot-headed bolt 81 in theFIGS. 10 to 12 embodiment. Alternatively it may be used in place of thethreaded tightening nut(s) 77 b of the threaded shaft(s)/pillar 77 ofthe tap 76 to secure the tap in place. This latter approach againenables the tap to be secured in place through turning of a screwdriverpointed upwardly from below rather than much more awkwardly using aspanner that has to be held radially relative to the pillar 77 muchhigher up under the basin/bath rim. It may also be used in a furthervariant of securing device configuration such as shown in FIGS. 15 to17.

Referring now to FIG. 15, this shows a further embodiment of securingdevice 85. This embodiment comprises an upper support plate 85 a with along, broad diameter externally ribbed skirt/collar 85 b extendingdownwardly below the upper support plate 85 a and able to revolve whilepressed against the underside of the plate 85 a. A lower support plateis held within the skirt/collar 85 b threadedly engaged with a thread onthe internal diameter of the skirt/collar 85 b. This lower support plate85 has a semi-circular opening through which the tap water supply pipescan pass and a U-shaped cut-out/recess 85 d on the lower support plateto facilitate mounting of the device to the tap pillar even with the nut77 b already in place on the pillar 77. The device is configured so thatgripping the external ribbed cylindrical surface of the skirt/collar 85b and turning it while holding the lower support plate 85 c to not turnwill advance the lower support plate 85 c down to press down on theupper face of the nut on the tap's threaded pillar 77. The nut here maybe elongate and may suitably be the nut 84 of FIG. 14, and thus able tobe tightened upwardly by a screw driver before or after the skirt/collar85 b has been screwed downwardly. In other embodiments the skirt/collar85 b might be static and only the nut, 77 b or 84, turned to secure thetap in place.

FIG. 16 shows a variant of the FIG. 15 device, having a through-hole forthe tap's threaded pillar rather than the U-shaped cut-out/recess 85 don the lower support plate (this nevertheless is superior to the priorart because the lower support plate is a considerable distance below theupper support plate and the rotary action to tighten the tap in place isby turning of the collar and not needing to involve use of spanners orthe like for any substantial threading distance). The FIG. 17 imagesimply shows a variant of the FIG. 15 device for mounting onto a pair ofthreaded pillars of a monobloc tap. All of the embodiments shown may beadapted for mounting to single or multiple pillars and for use withmonobloc taps or other single, pair or mixer taps.

The invention may take a form different from those specificallydescribed above. Further modifications will be apparent to those skilledin the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention.

1. A securement device for a tap having a tap body with a bottom faceand at least one water supply shaft extending from the tap body bottomface to pass through an aperture in a sink or bath, the devicecomprising a support member adapted to be connected to the tap bodyspaced from the tap body bottom face, the tap body being placed adjacentone side of a sink or bath with the tap shaft or shafts extendingthrough the sink or bath aperture and the support member engaging thetap body on the other side (underside) of the sink or bath to secure thetap body on the sink or bath, wherein the support member comprises asupport plate or body with at least one edge cut-out/slot to receive atap pillar of the tap body, whereby the support plate or body may beinstalled to the pillar by moving the support plate or body laterally(e.g. radially inwardly) towards the pillar to embrace the pillar, withthe pillar slotted into the cut-out/slot of the support plate or body,and the support plate or body is thereby able to latch against a nut orother element or shoulder on the pillar to secure the tap body on thesink or bath.
 2. A securement device according to claim 1, wherein theedge cut-out/slot is U-shaped to fit closely around a rounded tappillar.
 3. A securement device according to claim 1, wherein a pair ofsupport plates is provided, one plate on each of two opposing sides ofthe pillar.
 4. A securement device according to claim 1, wherein thedevice further comprises at least one force applicator to force thesupport member away from the tap body in use, said force applicatorengaging, directly or indirectly, the other side (underside) of the sinkor bath remote from the tap body and pushing the support member awayfrom the tap body to secure the tap body on the sink or bath.
 5. Asecurement device according to claim 4, wherein the force applicator isa threaded shaft passing through a threaded aperture in the supportmember.
 6. A securement device according to claim 5, wherein a first endof the threaded shaft includes a manually-operated handle, or hex heador screw driver slot.
 7. A securement device according to claim 6,wherein a second end engages the sink or bath.
 8. A securement deviceaccording to claim 7, wherein the second end, in use, is connected to asink or tap plate which engages the sink or tap to distribute the loadon the sink or bath.
 9. A securement device according to claim 8,wherein the plate slides on guide rods connected to the support memberto prevent it from rotating relative to the support member.
 10. Asecurement device according to claim 8, wherein one face of the plate isof resilient material to engage the sink or bath.
 11. A securementdevice according to claim 1, wherein there is a pair of nuts threadedonto the tap pillar with the plate loosely located between the nuts tosecure the support plate to the pillar in a position spaced from the tapbody.
 12. A securement device according to claim 1, wherein the supportmember is a support plate with a pair of spaced said cut-outs/slots toreceive spaced threaded tap pillars forming water supply shafts of amixer tap.
 13. A securement device according to claim 1, wherein thesupport member is a support plate spaced from a tap body bottom face ofa monobloc tap by a bolt.
 14. A securement device according to claim 1,in combination with a force applicator, the force applicator comprising:a) a threaded shaft, b) a manually operated handle at a first end of thethreaded shaft, c) a second end of the threaded shaft, wherein thesecond end engages the sink or bath, where, in use, the force applicatorapplies a force to force part of the securement device away from the tapbody, and secure the tap body on the sink or bath.
 15. A securementdevice according to claim 1, wherein the device has a platform thatsupports the support member allowing the support member to slidethere-over laterally towards or away from the pillar.
 16. A securementdevice according to claim 1, wherein the device has a resilient biasingmember to bias the support member to move laterally towards or away fromthe pillar.
 17. A securement device according to claim 1, wherein thedevice has a linkage that allows the support member to be movedlaterally towards or away from the pillar by a remote operation.
 18. Asecurement device according to claim 1, wherein the linkage is flexible(e.g. of wire/cable) or articulated.
 19. A securement device accordingto claim 1, wherein the linkage is configured to change direction topass underneath the sink or bath to facilitate remote operation at thebase of the sink or bath or beyond.
 20. A securement device according toclaim 1, wherein the linkage is countered by the resilient biasingmeans.
 21. A tap arrangement including a tap body in combination with asecurement device as claimed in claim
 1. 22. A tap arrangement accordingto claim 21, wherein the support member is latched in use above a nut.23. A tap arrangement according to claim 22, wherein the nut is a nutthreaded on the pillar.
 24. A tap arrangement according to claim 22,wherein the nut is a nut that couples a pipe connector to the pillar.25. A tap arrangement according to claim 21 as fitted in use to a sinkor bath, wherein the nut or other element or shoulder on the pillar isof a size that passes through the sink or bath aperture.
 26. A taparrangement according to claim 21 as fitted in use to a sink or bath,wherein a pipe connector is pre-plumbed on the pillar, the pipeconnector being of a size (outside diameter) that passes through thesink or bath aperture.
 27. A tap arrangement according to claim 21 asfitted in use to a sink or bath, wherein a pipe connector is pre-plumbedon the pillar, the pipe connector being of a size (outside diameter)that passes through the sink or bath aperture and wherein the device hasa platform that supports the support member allowing the support memberto slide there-over laterally towards or away from the pillar, theplatform having an aperture through which the pipe connector may pass.28. A securement device according to claim 1, wherein the support memberis integrally assembled to the bath or sink underside.
 29. A securementdevice according to claim 28, wherein the support member is held captivewithin end channels of a mounting bracket on the bath or sink and can bemoved along the channels enabling the member to latchingly engage withor disengage from the pillar.
 30. A securement device according to claim29, wherein there is head space in the channels to allow the supportmember to be moved vertically and backed off from the pillar far enoughto be able to withdraw and demount the tap body.
 31. A securement deviceaccording to claim 3, where an upper, in use one of the two supportmembers has a resilient foam pad with at least one recess to receive andlocate a free end of a bolt.
 32. A securement device according to claim1, wherein a bolt is provided to adjust vertical separation between thetwo support members in use and the bolt has a slotted head to be turnedby a screwdriver.
 33. A securement device for a tap having a tap bodywith a bottom face and at least one water supply shaft extending fromthe tap body bottom face to pass down through an aperture in a sink orbath, the device comprising a support member adapted to be connected tothe tap body spaced from the tap body bottom face, the tap body beingplaced adjacent one side of a sink or bath with the tap shaft or shaftsextending through the sink or bath aperture and the support memberengaging the tap body on the other side (underside) of the sink or bathto secure the tap body on the sink or bath, wherein the device comprisesat least one of: i) an elongate socket head that can be fitted over anut on a threaded shaft, accommodating the nut in a multi-faceted socketof the head, the nut having a slot for a screwdriver tip at one end; ii)an elongate multi-faceted socket head/hex head with a deep threadedsocket that can be fitted like a nut, threaded onto a threaded shaft;and iii) an elongate socket head that can be fitted over a nut on athreaded shaft, accommodating the nut in a multi-faceted socket of thehead, the nut having a cavity extending down from the base of the socketto receive a part of the threaded shaft that protrudes down through thenut.
 34. A securement device according to claim 1, comprising an uppersupport member with a rotatable skirt or collar extending down below itand having a lower support member threadedly held within the skirt sothat rotation of the skirt or collar can adjust the separation betweenthe upper support member and lower support member.
 35. A securementdevice for a tap having a tap body with a bottom face and at least onewater supply shaft extending from the tap body bottom face to pass downthrough an aperture in a sink or bath, the device comprising a supportmember adapted to be connected to the tap body spaced from the tap bodybottom face, the tap body being placed adjacent one side of a sink orbath with the tap shaft or shafts extending through the sink or bathaperture and the support member engaging the tap body on the other side(underside) of the sink or bath to secure the tap body on the sink orbath, wherein the device comprises an upper support member with arotatable skirt or collar extending down below it and having a lowersupport member threadedly held within the skirt so that rotation of theskirt or collar can adjust the separation between the upper supportmember and lower support member.